Gauge is unimportant for this project, but it is
advisable to knit a firm fabric, to prevent the stuffing
from showing though.

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques
can be found here]

Coil Shell
Roll the shell back and upwards, toward your left
needle; insert the tip of the left-hand needle into
a stitch on the shell (see photo of shell in progress).
Knit this stitch together with the next stitch on
the needle.

Add
Stuffing
This toy is stuffed as it is knit. When instructed
to add stuffing, fill the length that has been knit
with stuffing. This will begin when only a short length
of I-Cord has been knit; at this point, use a knitting
needle or pencil to poke a small amount of stuffing
down the center of the cord.

For the striped shell, don't worry about making
a jogless join. One-row-high stripes will always look
perfect at the seam line. (Try it if you don't believe
me.)

For the coiled nautiloid, the increases are hidden
on the inside of the coil. For the straight nautiloid,
your increases will be visible. To disrupt the striping
as little as possible, increase by casting on one
stitch with the backward loop method.

I-Cord
Using a circular or double-point needle, CO or pick
up required number of sts.

Next Row: Instead of turning work around to
work back on the WS, slide all sts to other end of
needle, switch needle back to your left hand, bring
yarn around back of work, and start knitting the sts
again.
Repeat this row to form I-cord. After a few rows,
work will begin to form a tube.

DIRECTIONS

Shell
(Coiled):
Using CC1, CO 3 sts. Work 1 row of I-Cord.

Join CC2 and continue working I-Cord as follows:

Row 1: Using CC2, m1, k to end.

Row 2: Using CC1, k all sts.

Row 3: Add stuffing; using CC2, k all sts.

Row 4: Using CC1, k all sts.

Rows 5-8: Work as for Rows 1-4.

Row 9: Using CC2, m1, k to end. 6 sts.
Distribute sts evenly between 3 double-point needles
and begin working in the round.

Sew
Face to inside of Shell, 4 rounds from
end of shell; finish stuffing piece as you sew this
seam. Fasten end of seam securely and hide yarn end
inside piece. Hide any remaining yarn tails in the
same way.

Work I-Cord for 18 rows,
or to desired length. BO all sts, weave end down into
I-Cord. Or you can secure the end with a knit and
trim it 0.25 inches from the knot.

Make eyes by cutting two
pairs of circles out of felt: a white circle about
the size of a dime, and a black circle which is slightly
smaller. Cut a narrow wedge from the black circle
to make a "Pac-Man" shape. Using photo for
reference, glue or sew the black and white circles
together, then glue or sew the eyes to the nautiloid's
face.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Beth
Skwarecki lives, knits, and blogs
in Ithaca, NY, USA. She enjoys making the simple,
the unusual, and the ingenious.